Transport and Communications Minister Hon Mutotwe Kafwaya said the Government has said he is concerned with the conduct of the driver of who caused the road traffic accident along the Kabwe – Kapiri Mposhi Road in Central Province and is of the view that the driver acted negligently, violated the driver’s duty of reasonable care and demonstrated to be a danger to the public.
Reacting to the accident, Hon Kafwaya, who conveyed heartfelt condolences to the families of the people that died in the road traffic accident, has since directed RTSA to ensure that all bus operators implement the Road Safety fleet Management Policy of 2017.
Hon Kafwaya said such behaviour worries Government in its quest to consider lifting Statutory Instrument (SI) No.76 which restricts the movement of buses at night to avoid loss of lives.
“I am, therefore, directing RTSA to ensure that all bus operators implement the Road Safety fleet Management Policy of 2017 which is underpinned by the following five (5) factors namely: (i) Driver Management; (ii) Vehicle Management; (iii) Journey Management (including installation of the Global Positioning System – GPS); (iv) Health and Safety at the Workplace; and (v) Organisational Management,” he said.
“It is equally of great concern that bus operators are not doing much to monitor the behaviour of drivers by implementing the Road Safety Fleet Management Policy that requires the installation of the Global Positioning System (GPS) and driver training in Road Safety Rules and Regulations.”
He further stated that government will not condone losing lives in such a manner due to bus operators and drivers negligence.
“Further, RTSA is directed to ensure that all long-distance buses are fitted with GPS with immediate effect. RTSA should enforce the Road Safety Fleet Management Policy and the GPS without fail,” said the Transport Minister.
Three people died in a fatal road accident which happened around 15:45 hours yesterday, when the driver of a Scorpion Bus registration number AIC132, Francis Namakube, careered off the road and overturned after wrongly overtaking a number of vehicles and avoiding a head-on collision with an oncoming vehicle.
Preliminary accident investigations conducted by the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA), have revealed that the driver of the bus was over-speeding as evidenced by the fact that he wrongly overtook several vehicles and careered off the road and overturned.
Yes this is now needed. Minister I like your progressive thinking. Pf has high calibre leaders. Kz
Rubbish! GPS will not save people from perishing on the slippery death trap roads. Zambian roads are dangerous highways to hell!
There was an Indian chief named Crazy Horse.And an Indian chief named Sitting Bull.Peter Carlos Hinds.
This is shows that GPS technology is grossly misunderstood by the minister. How will GPS and fleet management systems prevent road accidents? Yaaba!
Reactive beings, ba kz bena bapona namu malumbo, typical pf mentality, with 2021 around the corner you will see marketeers and vendors been dished with so called empowerment funds, the presidential initiative fund will come alive, watch the space.
Can the minister pls explain how a GPS will prevent accidents? Why don’t you introduce speed limits on the buses like they do in other countries. The buses can be altered and be limited to a specified speed. This would reduce the risk of accidents.
GPS can not stop those accidents.. Look at the tyres of the bus. Those buses and other vehicles should be inspected for road worthness once a year.. Not on road blocks or by traffic police.. Must be by qualified technicians or mechanics.
So now this is no longer about night driving but careless driving
Haha at ‘GPS’ does he really know what he is talking about or do Zambian bus drivers really don’t know where they are going and they constantly get lost and get involved in accidents as a result? This must be the new model of the GPS system or perhaps it that ‘black magic’ GPS 🙂
GPS cannot stop accidents from occurring Bwana Minister!! The only mitigation to avoid RTAs is the observance of road safety procedures!! A properly licensed driver entrusted to carry passengers must pass exams and certified as PSV. I fail to understand that a trained driver can overtake knowing fully well that he is taking such maneuvers at a blind spot?? Lets ensure that all drivers follow road safety rules and not what the minister is proposing. Imwe fyonse, you think of how you can get a commission from you ministry!! What kind of leaders are these??
!. Train and monitor drivers carefully
2. Fix and widen the roads to allow normal overtaking
GPS used by poorly trained and unmomintored drivers drivers on poor rosds remain a hazard to the people of Zambia.
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This company’s road service licence must also be suspended until such a time that all their drivers attend a defensive driving course and are all retested for behavioural patterns and sober kindness just like it was done to other bus companies who were involved in accidents. Let’s treat every company the same when it comes to accidents.
why now? you can’t call this progressive thinking only shows the calibre of your so called leaders
This road has claimed more lives today. It’s a public health hazard that needs to be addressed with the same zeal we address cholera or the world is addressing the COVID19 epidemic.